Re-energise and regain your enthusiasm for stitch.
Now on YouTube
- Use this ultimate resource by Award-Winning Australian embroiderer and quilter, Cathy Jack Coupland, designed specially for the avid fibre artist.
- Reconnect your passion to create through unique colour and design choices.
- Save time – use my Checklists to inspire and motivate.
- Just begin, and see where it takes you.
November 2024
Standing Coral might be small but it packs a punch.
Lovely limey-yellow greens contrast with coral and pink and just a touch of black here and there for that instant pop of colour.
Worked over a pressed paper form covered with painted felt embellished with contrasting textures and finished with a base of couched gimp and beads.
These are not quick to make, but they please the eye through one simple function – contrast.
Understanding the importance of contrast in design makes for interesting work—or it does for me, and I hope it does for you, too.
Colour, texture, size and shape contrast here yet are unified creating a pleasing visual experience.
Contrast is such an easy thing to overlook, but well worth exploring daily through our various art practices.
October 2024
Listen to this chat between Anne Kempton, Gallerist from Timeless Textiles Gallery in Newcastle and me about my current exhibition, Escape.
October 2024
It’s nearly here – my third exhibition with Timeless Textiles Gallery in beautiful Newcastle.
There’s been a lot of thought going into ‘Escape’, not only in having a loose theme of coral, holidays and even home – but also for the sheer pleasure derived from holding a needle and thread to create.
Because what I find, is that when I’m stitching and concentrating on that next stitch, I’m very much in a quiet, contemplative place – a place where time is irrelevant, where colours and textures move and lift my soul, and where I can simply be me through what I do.
We all have to find what calms and soothes us, and for me, it’s embroidery—but it’s also about recognising and saluting the amazing and varied history of this ancient and beautiful craft.
Whether it’s decorative or a form of passive protest, stitching is as simple as picking up a needle and thread and just beginning.
What’s your escape?
Embroidery offers visual and tactile responses capturing memories and moments as we work with our hands.
It relieves stress as we build patterns, lines and shapes shaped by our visual and emotional responses.
It’s an age-old and worldwide language.
Best of all though, embroidery is Escape – into an unknown world of possibility.
I’ll be exhibiting my stitched artworks at Timeless Textiles Gallery, 90 Hunter Street in beautiful Newcastle from October 23 to November 24.
The theme is embroidery, its timelessness and its art.
It’s also my Escape into a world of creativity and innovation.
It’s a quiet, colourful, contemplative journey using a simple needle and thread.
Join me.
October 2024
Circles are fascinating.
They can relate to infinity, unity, entity, perfection, life without beginning or end, balance or the cosmos.
In this case ‘Ode To Plants’ references the beauty of the natural world, from the cellular level at the centre, to what we see and know so well on the outside.
Working circular designs offer a huge scope for continuity in design that is not always easy to attain from other shapes—it’s connected, so it has to work.
Perhaps that’s why circles are a recurring theme in my work, it’s that perfection and balance that always piques my interest.
Plus it’s an apt metaphor for the world as one.
A world where we must preserve and care for the environment.
October 2024
With an exhibition looming there’s been significant work undertaken to meet finishing, display and admin requirements and with forty-two separate items, that’s no mean feat.
But out of a chance reacquaintance with a piece of unfinished machine embroidery, came this beautiful piece named ‘Coral Arches’.
Though difficult to see from this image there are cutouts and a few machine-embroidered circles in the work which is supported by a perimeter of wire attached by machine.
That means the work could be manipulated – or could have been before it was displayed on Perspex.
Within this exhibition are two embroideries that have re-emerged and been given new direction and life by taking a gamble and going out on a limb.
Come and visit my exhibition Escape at Timeless Textiles Gallery in Newcastle from October 23 to November 24, 2024.
September 2024
One of the joys of working with a needle and thread is the freedom to design unique textile art.
Over the years, my style has developed into something recognizable and playful – it’s that leap from a concept into a finished artwork that’s incredibly exciting.
But it has to start somewhere, be inspired by something – and in many cases, it may be as simple as a line or shape – from simplicity, I create intricacy – it has become my signature, my style.
So from a simple walk, I photographed some amazing flowers, or from our garden the beautiful shape of a frangipani leaf. I’ve been working with my Happy Houses for years, so the design on the left combines all those things – lines, shapes and colours I feel extremely comfortable with.
They have become a representation of me and my textile art.
Watch my latest YouTube video on Line as Inspiration here.
August 2024
Pressure is something all artists experience.
Whether self-inflicted or external, strategies for managing pressure help enormously, but what about when it’s self-imposed and helps move us forward, stretching our abilities and making us dig deeper to find those hidden reservoirs of creativity?
Because that’s exactly what can happen.
How do we dig deeper?
Sometimes it simply means challenging ourselves with a new concept or technique – and that’s what I’ve done here.
Watercolour and acrylic on canvas provide a clean, modern and unusual substrate for embroidery – but working in colours of pink, orange and gold only makes me want to stitch into it even more.
The main objective here is to ensure the embroidery shines, and that the viewer’s eyes are drawn to the texture and dimension created by this wonderfully diverse art form.
August 2024
Embroidery and textile art is such a visually tactile and engaging genre that care should be taken with photography to ensure we get the best of every shot.
And every shot should tell a story.
It may be simply about colour or contrast, but it could also be a narrative about the tools and materials we use – that can be very interesting and engaging.
So I’m a firm believer in staging shots – that is, taking the time to style the image and use props if appropriate to help accentuate that storytelling.
My latest video Add Pizzaz to Your Photoshoot offers simple suggestions and ideas to make your work sing in an image.
It may be about backgrounds, props or the perspective used to take an image – but these ideas may help make the photography of your art come alive.
There’s something about a tangle of threads or glowing colours that sing because of a unique background – all it takes is a little time and a little care.
The main thing is to show your work to its very best – and we all want that.
August 2024
Hand-guided free-machine embroidery is a machine technique with almost endless possibilities.
It’s my go-to technique because if I can draw a line, I know I can stitch it.
And that’s my process. Draw, tinker with it, transfer then stitch. I can spend many a happy hour working at my sewing machine.
But it does require a certain sensitivity surrounding how you work and the length of time you can work for.
My latest blog post delves into some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years to help promote being proactive and thoughtful about working with a sewing machine. Read it here.
But to complement that, I’ve also made a video on some of the work I’ve created over the last five years or so – work that’s unique and that utilises hand-guided free-machine embroidery.
Watch it on my YouTube channel here.
Opposite is new work, accepted into Australia Wide 9 titled Nature Abstracted.
July 2024
Celebrating World Embroidery Day.
Over the last two years, I’ve been working on something for the pleasure of using a needle and thread, exploring texture and colour even further and losing myself in the magical techniques that make up the world of needle art.
The result is a Stitch Roll made from scraps of navy wool, stitched together to form a long, narrow roll – a perfect place to play, learn and innovate.
Head over to my YouTube channel to watch a short video of my Stitch Roll so far, with a few additions I couldn’t resist including.
And for me, that’s the beauty of embroidery – it’s irresistible and draws you in to want to do more and more.
So for all those who are like me and love to work with a needle and thread, enjoy World Embroidery Day 2024 by sharing some stitch time with family or friends.
July 2024
Creativity doesn’t stop just because you’ve finished the work.
Taking images of your work from unusual perspectives offers opportunities for even more creativity.
This work stands 17cm high and those long bugle beads are like ruby red stalactites dripping down to try to reach the surface beading.
They beg to be photographed from different angles and positions, but this one worked best for me – I can almost feel them trying to touch.
So don’t think everything stops when the work is finished – in some ways, it’s just beginning all over again.
Opportunities for amazingly unique images – and they’re worth taking some time over because these can be used on your social media, for magazine articles or as prints.
Photography can be such fun. Book a date with yourself and organise several pieces to be shot. Collect some props if that suits your style and your work and take your time to create magic with that imagery.
I think our work deserves it.
July 2024
Well, it’s great to be back in the saddle.
Many forms of embroidery appeal, but I have to say there’s nothing quite like the rhythm of a purring sewing machine on a cold, wet day with a good audiobook to soothe the soul and fuel that need for creativity.
A deadline looming is always a great motivator for me to produce work and it all begins with a blank piece of white paper.
It must be white, off-white doesn’t seem to work for me – add an HB pencil and rubber and I’m in heaven.
This piece is an abstract work based on natural forms for inspiration, and the colour palette is unusual.
Fleuro lime is toned down with a butter yellow thread to create the background and the entire piece is bordered with black and grey to make the work pop.
Rich browns, fiery oranges, gentle umber and soft, cooling greens combine to create a rich, eye-catching palette.
Free machine embroidery – well worth trying.
June 2024
Winning an award for work you’ve created from inception to end is a remarkable thing, however, having your work seen in another country in gallery settings is right up there with that win.
I’m thrilled to have been asked to loan my prize-winning quilt, And Then There Were Three to Studio Art Quilt Associates Global Exhibition, Aviary,
60 Master Artists have created glorious art inspired by birds based upon “Stitched Journeys with Birds: Inspiration to Let Your Creativity Take Flight” (Schiffer, late 2023) by SAQA’s Executive Director Martha Sielman. This publication is available in the SAQA Store and through Schiffer Publishing.
The exhibition schedule for Aviary is:
Gadsden Arts Center & Museum, Quincy, Florida: September 20 – December 14, 2024
Brigham City Museum of Art & History, Brigham City, Utah: June 1 – September 30, 2025
Like to see the full quilt? Watch my YouTube video here.
June 2024
Monochrome is a fantastic starting point if you’re unsure about a colour palette.
It gives focus and boundaries to the choices needed to create it – but, with a monochromatic colour scheme, you must include tonal variations along with colour relatives of your chosen hue.
Without them, the colour scheme fails to do what it’s supposed to – attract attention through its elegant and beautiful nature.
I haven’t created a true monochromatic scheme here with this work, but I was careful with every choice to ensure nothing took over from that overall feeling of ‘simply red’.
With the addition of gold and a tiny amount of yellow, a subtle contrast was achieved, but what stands out is the contrasts of texture.
Shiny/matt, small/large, tall/short – create a surface of constant change and visual feast.
So working with only one hue, but opening its arms to embrace close relatives and tonal variations makes a lot of sense and produces a sense of elegance.
May 2024
The year is fast flowing past and inspiration keeps the work cascading with new ideas.
Finally, though, I have time to tidy my work-room, and surprise, surprise, what do I find? Forgotten treasures. You know, the half-finished ideas or small pieces of work that all too easily slip from memory and are seemingly lost.
Well, I’ve rediscovered a couple and the image on the right is the result of one such find.
A small watercolour made for a workshop that didn’t go ahead became the base for this coral-inspired embroidery.
The colours are amazing, but when you look more closely, it’s actually all those contrasts of texture that make this work so interesting.
Covering small items to create dimension and form is one of my favourite techniques but hiding there in the background is a lone barnacle – and it just seems to fit perfectly.
Perfect nature.
Forgotten treasures? Not any more.
May 2024
This mini-series of encrusted, embroidered corals feature some unusual materials, at the very least.
Barnacles are marine invertebrates that usually live in shallow and tidal waters but offer so much more in the embroidery world – contrast and variety.
Both kindle interest and are often overlooked in embroidery – but not here.
Wooden balls, covered in blanket stitch then painted and topped with a concoction of tiny metal rings, beads and unravelled woven gift wrap subtly coloured to match, add further interest and variety.
Then comes the stitching – Bullion stitch, Beading and Needle weaving create even more contrasting textures.
But it’s gently, gently as you work with this number of materials because it’s all too easy to overdo and swamp these delicate stitched artworks.
Working small can sometimes be a great way to exercise our self-critiquing skills. Does it work? Is it finished? Do all the elements work harmoniously?
And you’re the only person who can really answer those all-important questions.
April 2024
Good photography can make or break embroidery – and that means thinking about lighting, position, adornments and proximity to the work.
Now, of course, full images of the stitched artwork are required but so are close-ups or even macro shots.
Why? Because they show the personality of the stitch, the colours and even the threads used.
For me it gives a glimpse into the hands that made every stitch and every decision – and I think that’s something precious.
Therein lies the emotion and love for embroidery and the care that goes into the smallest, thoughtful embellishments.
Not so visible with normal, whole-shot photography, but eminently so with close-ups or macros.
So for me, with every newly finished piece comes the photography – the ring light, the positioning, and both full and close-up shots for use on social media.
If you don’t already, think about your imagery and the proximity of that camera lens to your work. It feels like a moment frozen in time.
April 2024
Inspiring greens mingle happily with one of the simplest hand embroidery stitches – Blanket stitch.
A gently curved spiral leads the eye and the stitch around and around creating a vortex of swirling green lines.
Again a small amount of black and gold adds highlights with some olive green bugle beads for contrast.
This is an easy stitch to work and changing the scale adds gravitas to all those beautiful threads.
Plus working with a monochromatic colour scheme is pleasing to the eye if contrasts of value and thickness are used.
What’s interesting is the dynamic between simplicity and intricacy – the simplicity of the stitch itself against the amount of stitch and thread used to create the design.
That’s what excites me.
March 2024
This mini-series is named ‘Embroidery On The Half-Shell’ because they’re all mounted on beautiful half-shell scallop shells.
I’ve never worked with a drill before, so this was fascinating – juxtaposing hard and soft elements with wire for added dimension and height.
Add some beadwork, beautifully soft silk and textured thread, suddenly it all works.
The shell provides the base – the wire and embroidery the form, creating something sea-like in its weird way.
Would I work with a drill again? Definitely.
That ability to be able to use elements that are foreign to embroidery appeals – opening the imagination to myriad possibilities.
It’s Easter time and I wish everyone well.
If you’re travelling, do so safely.
Happy Stitching!
referMarch 2024
A simple circle forms the basis for many of my recent embroideries.
Working within a circle is a wonderful means of experimenting with colours, stitches and embellishments.
But it’s more than that. Add repetition and variety and what evolves can’t help but be something interesting and eye-catching.
Yellows, pinks and gold with just a hint of black and gold thread for drama, create a very soft, easy-on-the-eye palette, yet it’s visually pleasing because of that simple circular format.
Worked on felt, gently coloured with pink markers, it was easy to cut around the design to stitch onto a small stretched canvas for instant presentation.
Fly stitch, Chain stitch, Blanket stitch over a central ring and a variety of small round and bugle beads bring added interest to this small, delicate embroidery.
Circles make a great beginning for those wishing to pursue colour and stitch combinations.
They also make a great library for future reference.
March 2024
Embroidery can be as simple or intricate as you want it to be.
My raison d’etre or reason for being seems to be based on making the simple appear intricate.
And that’s exactly what’s happening in the image opposite.
This stitch dates back to the 4th century AD in Egypt where a child’s tunic was found with blocks of coloured blanket stitch worked around the edge of the hood.
Now that’s a huge difference from what I’ve achieved here, but it’s the same stitch, worked over and over again, used to contain beads, whipped to create texture, and stitched in a black and gold metallic thread for drama.
The embellishments and colours help to make this piece stand out.
Blanket stitch was worked over rings and filled with standing bugle beads, I whipped the central blanket stitch circle to provide a wonderful contrast of texture, and couldn’t resist adding gold tufts of thread under the central bead for extra pizzaz.
So simple, yet so intricate.
March 2024
Everything looks ‘Pretty In Pink’, hence the name for this work.
A simple stitch, in this case, Chain stitch, can be made into something very special indeed, by using texture, line, shape, variety, and space – plus a few unique embellishments as highlights and my favourite gold and black Butterfly thread to lift the entire palette.
It’s one of a series focussing on a single simple stitch with the idea of highlighting the beauty of that stitch when used imaginatively.
These are the kinds of stitches I learned decades ago – the ones we used to call ‘fancywork’ – but they’re so much more when imagination is brought into play.
I think too, it makes us look at these stitches as the art that they can be – there’s a whole world of possibility locked within them.
These works are meant as wall pieces. With just a glance they’re meant to uplift and inspire so that you feel a moment of pure joy.
How often does that happen now?
Well it can, from a simple needle and thread.
February 2024
There are times when it’s essential to recharge those batteries, find inspiration through new techniques, and simply sit back and enjoy the fellowship of creativity with others.
And that’s exactly what I did recently – I attended Australian Assemblage artist, Susan Doherty’s workshop, The Strange Made Intimate.
Yes, a lot of it was strange to me, but that’s exactly what appealed. Her current exhibition in Newcastle at Timeless Textiles Gallery, The Gold Series, and the Poetry of Flowers is a show stopper, so I knew I had to do her workshop.
It didn’t disappoint – I believe it elevated each attendee in different ways. We all created such individual work with solid support from Susan.
I look at workshops like recipe books – if I buy one and there’s just one recipe that appeals, then it’s a success. It’s the same with workshops, only this one has me thinking.
There’s the repurposing of materials, there’s the wonder and beauty of the natural world and then there’s our personality that always comes into play – that’s a powerful trinity of inspiration right there.
February 2024
The formation of new work is so important in my creative practice.
It builds on what’s been done before, which is why a daily practice pushes that creative energy even further.
Yes, it takes time, but the results are worth it.
The image on the left is a perfect example.
I’ve been working on samples for an upcoming workshop – and this one just came out of nowhere.
Rarely do I use grey in my work, but how it sings with yellow and just a dash of elegant black.
Plus leaving plenty of white space enabling the work to breathe is important and restful.
Working directly onto paper is energising because the magic of watercolour simply does its thing before I even have to think of what I’m doing.
Check out my latest YouTube video featuring further work on paper and canvas here.
January 2024
Embroidery and the textile and fibre arts can offer the most luxurious, tactile, and visually uplifting experiences.
And it’s those experiences I try to capture through simple imagery caught on my iPhone that I merge into a very simple movie format.
It showcases embroidery and the beauty of a simple stitch – watch my YouTube video here.
It promotes colour and texture and the important roles they play in offering that experience.
For me though, it’s all about the pleasure and the choices I have to make along the way.
Because that’s what design is all about – choices, and that’s what makes our work unique.
In this work, I’ve let the work speak.
I’ve given it freedom.
And I’ve enjoyed every moment. Plus the music just adds another dimension.
January 2024
Welcoming a New Year brimming with creativity, colour, and friendship.
As new work develops, I’ve been thinking about the myriad ways one can design.
Do you draw and plan out every element and step of the process? Or, do you wing it, hoping that everything comes together serendipitously?
Or, as in the case of the work featured here, do you try another way – where small embroidered slips are made, then placed pleasingly on the background fabric?
All that matters is the result, but it’s interesting nonetheless to think about process and how we each address it because, for me, success is in the result.
I’ve worked each of the ways nominated – and they have all worked, although working without an idea of the outcome can be quite scary.
So here are some of my beaded, hand-painted slips, bursting with the textures of the melon patch – and what a great way to finally use some of those showy, fuzzy novelty threads I’ve had hoarded away.
Let’s see where they lead me.
December 2023
The idea of stitching onto a painted surface has been attracting me for a long while, and finally, I’ve been able to spend some time just playing with some small stretched canvasses.
Add some marks with ink and pens for added visual interest, capped off by some wonderful, textural embroidery and you have a delightful, small artwork – ready to hang.
There are a few restrictions though. Not all stitches can be worked onto the canvas but many are still available for the discerning embroiderer to choose from.
Here I simply made a square of French Knots in a beautiful variegated blue cotton floss, filled in the centre with a silver bristling thread for pure contrast – and the result is striking.
The texture of both the thread and the stitch is amazing and makes a real statement.
I was so enamoured, I continued to make a small series.
And that’s the beauty of being inspired by stitch, embroidery and colour – you just can’t stop at one!
November 2023
As the year comes to an end, the inspiration and desire to stitch continue to grow, just in different directions.
And that’s just how I like it.
I’m continually growing, my work is evolving and I feel the pull of the needle and thread as strongly now as I ever did.
Colour plays a huge role in my work – and that alone can motivate me, but I have to say painting with watercolours has to be a favourite ignition to almost instant inspiration.
When those beautiful, strong pigments merge together and mix, I’m in heaven – and then trying to interpret how to stitch into those pools of colours poses yet another layer of problem-solving, testing my skills and my eye even more.
What works? What doesn’t work and why?
They’re questions that I love having to answer.
And those questions are exactly what supports my intuition, something that needs to be cultivated daily.
Paint and stitch it’s a perfect combination.
November 2023
I’ve always loved working with paper – especially combining my own mark-making with simple stitching.
But I wanted to up the ante recently, so it was back to the drawing board for me, testing watercolours, designs, and ideas.
I can see a resolution forming, but there’s still a way to go – it takes time and practice to achieve solid outcomes, but I know I’m heading in the right direction.
Paper’s an interesting medium for embroidery – not always easy, but one that allows the stitch and thread to really stand proud of the surface, giving it a certain pride of place in the design outcome.
I love the glow of strong watercolours especially the way the colours blend and meld – the way they overlap and merge is mesmerising.
Simple embroidery adds texture, dimension and pops of colour – not to mention the beautiful patterns only embroidery stitches can achieve.
I’ll feature more images of this work in progress – stitching directly onto paper, working with the elegance of watercolour and other mixed media.
November 2023
Yellow symbolizes optimism, joy, energy, happiness, and friendship. It really is a sublime colour to work with.
Take an unused watercolour, some yellow felt plus a used plastic vege bag for added texture, topped with some wonderful handmade circular sequins and you have an amazing ground for creative embroidery.
Where to start? Always with colour and texture.
Black seemed to be the perfect starting point and everything grew from that.
For me, hand embroidery is about layering and building on those initial stitches, thinking about the thickness, lustre, and shape – of both the stitches themselves and the embellishments added.
Here, I love the contrasts of weight – heavy and dark against light and floating almost, and yet I’ve used very simple stitches.
Straight stitch, chain stitch, whipped chain stitch, buttonhole – all share a role in this interplay, but that unusual plastic vege mesh adds unique visual interest with its suggestion of movement and motion.
Yellow is a fantastic starting point for any embroidery.
September 2023
Creating is all about doing – continually, not just every now and then.
It’s about exploring and developing new ideas, and that’s exactly what I’m doing with my new series titled, funnily enough, ‘Exploring’.
They might be teeny-tiny but they pack a punch as you can see – I don’t do things by halves here.
The idea is to take a single stitch, in this case, Spiders Web, and really see where I can take it.
And it’s amazing sometimes just where that will lead.
Why bother I hear you ask? Because we must continue to develop – and this is one way I inject my personality onto a stitch, rather than have it dictate to me.
It’s a foundation for finding your own unique voice and style in your work.
Plus it’s fun.
And anything worked in pink with a few touches of gold has to be good. Right?
September 2023
What stimulates me to create?
Colour and texture would probably top my list.
And when it comes to hand embroidery, I like to keep adding and mixing elements to create not only variety but also interest.
So this is my latest small embroidery worked on some beautifully coloured, hand-made art felt that just begged to be stitched into.
Tones of orange, strikes of lime green, sooty black, and creamy white made the perfect base on which to simply create – which is exactly what I’ve done here.
No pattern, simply instinct and experience. Improv stitching at its very best.
Not everything worked, but I’m more than happy to give anything a go – and with hand work, it’s fairly easy to rectify if it needs to come out.
So with colour and texture as my impetus and a theme based around the beautiful world of our amazing coral reefs – the embroidery simply flowed.
And I’m very happy with the outcome.
August 2023
Design, design, design.
That’s what helps create new work for me.
With hand embroidery, I prefer a more organic, looser approach, but with my machine work I like precision and detail
And to achieve that I have to draw each and every line to ensure it will work and that I can actually stitch it.
Finding a number of unused sketchbooks prompted me to begin drawing again – and the feeling is magic.
I can see the designs develop and feel the lure of shape, colour, line, and pattern drawing me in.
It’s that energy that helps motivate new work each and every day and it’s invigorating, to say the least.
So, watch this space as I post images of my latest design journey into the Underwater world in and around coral reefs – designed specifically to be machine embroidered.
August 2023
What is it exactly that makes me want to work with a needle and thread?
Well, it’s no one thing, rather, a combination of elements such as colour, texture, dimension, and scale.
And when the union of those elements excites, inspires, and urges you to create, then there’s no stopping the endless output of work.
Now that’s a good thing, believe me, but inherent within those elements is also a need to continue to explore and innovate.
For instance, I’m now investigating the addition of embroidery with beadwork because the textures are just so completely different – as you can see in this image.
A simple Bullion stitch worked in rayon thread catches and reflects light beautifully and is a simple contrast to the beadwork.
Another aspect is leaving some empty spaces throughout the work – and I think that just makes the work all the more interesting.
July 2023
My latest work, Coral – soon to be appearing in the Exuberance exhibition at Craft + Design, Canberra from July 6 till August 26, 2003.
I don’t consider myself a hand embroiderer – my work normally centres around machine work.
But, I was invited to participate in this exhibition, featuring hand embroidery and I happily accepted.
That meant a huge pivot for me – not that I can’t embroider, it’s just that I haven’t done it in years.
However, it’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it and when parameters and guidelines are set – because that’s really what helped get me through.
I had a concept, Coral, and I knew I had to focus on contrasts – of line, shape, colour, texture, number, and size – the whole kit and kaboodle.
And this is the result, incorporating hair bands, cotton buds, shells, beaded wire, covered wooden beads, and a cacophony of assorted beads and sequins.
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June 2023
More and more people are turning to the needle arts as a means of slowing down, reconnecting with traditions, or forming new ones.
And it’s easy to understand why.
Even through the harem-scarem of packing for an imminent move, I’ve still needed that connection to work with my hands, to be creative, and to just relax into the repetition of forming stitch after stitch.
These Coral Clusters are a delight to make – and I love to work them in an almost monochromatic colour palette. Somehow, it just deepens the magic.
So, even with innumerable packing boxes overtaking my life – those haptic senses still need to be appeased.
And it’s a pleasure to do so.
Whilst I truly enjoy research for my Stitch Safari Podcast, involving a great deal of screen time, designing and creating is what really slows me down and allows me to breathe deeply.
It’s a very easy solution to the business of the world today and one I wouldn’t trade at all.
May 2023
Part of what urges me to create these underwater embroideries is that I love to analyze and problem-solve.
Developing likenesses to these underwater creatures requires close observation – but for me, it’s linking that observation with what I know I can do – and do well.
So looking at shapes that are easily replicated isn’t too difficult, but thinking about the type of stitch technique to use is, has to marry up with my ability.
So far, it’s working. Stitch creates the textures within those shapes that catch the eye and encourages wandering all over the work.
But there’s another part of me that just loves to look at odd little items that can be applied to my work.
One bag of small metal tubes had me thinking.
I could use them to create height and dimension, but being tubular, they can also be seen through – a perfect scenario for an underwater home or refuge from predators, but also as a view-through.
Not a perspective often used in embroidery, and one I’ll explore further.
April 2023
This work-in-progress image exemplifies the link between expressive embroidery and the natural world.
It’s just one stitch, repeated and repeated to replicate the amazing textures found in our underwater world.
Like so many embroidery stitches, Bullion stitch is versatile and under-utilized – it’s a powerhouse of texture and dimension.
And I love it.
My next step is to think about a colourway and how I’ll fill the centres of each coral-flower, but that will come will a little trial and error.
What’s fascinating here is the utter simplicity of using one stitch for visual impact – and it works so well to express those hard corals.
So, something to look forward to when I post an image of the piece finished and ready to mount for exhibition.
Both our natural world and embroidery are so giving – it’s just a matter of looking to see what each offers and interpreting that in our own unique way.
April 2023
Hand embroidery takes time.
I’m creating these works on the theme of Coral, highlighting worldwide coral bleaching events, for an exhibition early in 2024.
Equally, I’m trying to create interesting thematic hanging and display options.
I’d love this exhibition to spark an interest in people as to the beauty of our underwater world but also the devastation of these recurring coral bleaching events.
I believe work is being done to regenerate and resolve ocean-warming issues that are the cause of coral bleaching – and that should also be acknowledged and applauded too.
A needle and thread have long been used as a form of protest – but this body of work is more about showcasing an awakening of the utter beauty and vitality abounding around our healthy coral reefs.
It’s an important and timely message delivered in the only way I know how – doing what I love to do.
It’s my way of highlighting this serious and devastating problem.
March 2023
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
While wasting time on the internet, I came across some very interesting forms made from compressed paper. They’re light and take paint well.
However, they are not easily stitched.
So I had to think of a solution….and there’s always a solution.
I made a little cap that covers most of the half-circle form, then will simply secure that.
It had to be shaped to fit, so I drew on my long-lost dressmaking skills, cutting away several sections – just like making darts for a dress or blouse.
And it’s worked well.
The cap fits, and all I need to do is take a few stitches around the lower edge to secure it to the form.
So the process, yet again, was back-to-front, in many textile artist’s books, however, it’s worked for me.
And created a new series of works.
March 2023
And sometimes, it’s a good idea to take a photo of works in progress – all together.
This way I get a feel for all those colours and textures and can see it’s working towards a simply stunning and innovative body of work.
To achieve that, I’m working organically – that is as ideas come, I begin to stitch – and I change and adapt as I go.
This is exactly the look I’m after.
Intricate, bold, detailed, and varied – it suits the style of work I create – I simply go where my instincts lead
But it’s not easy. Until now, I’ve looked at these pieces individually – but placed together for this photo shows me I’m on the right track.
Everything is resting on a white faux-fur stole – another idea I have for a large work incorporating this metropolis of stitch and business.
It works for me. I look across this image with a great deal of satisfaction – of goals reached and those yet to be achieved – all with a needle and thread.
February 2023
I’m currently writing a book on design for textile artists – it’s two steps forward and one step back at the moment, but, here’s the crux of what I believe design is really about – give it time, give it energy, and give it all you have to help visualize your idea.
These forms were inspired by an underwater image of a plant-like sea animal.
Pastel in colour, it had soft, tubular arms that reached upwards ending in flower tips.
Immediately I saw a connection between some beautiful sequins and some white straws I had.
And that’s all it takes – that connection between a drawing, sketch, or image, what we have to work with, and the techniques we’re able to utilize to make it all work.
So after a couple of hours of thinking, stitching, and painting, this is the result – almost completely different from what inspired it, but offering something that’s uniquely original and uniquely me.
And that’s what design is all about.
February 2023
This journey into coral reefs and coral bleaching events has been monumental.
Not only is it riveting research, but it’s opened a whole new world of stitch for someone who has normally worked by machine.
Why haven’t I delved into hand embroidery before this?
Well, it appears I like the quirky and unusual, along with juxtapositions of textures and colours that normally wouldn’t be seen – except underwater.
Now that’s a world that truly fascinates me – with its endless motion, those dark nooks and crannies, as well as the stunning reef life that abounds on and around a healthy coral reef.
It’s an amazing world and I’ve tried to capture the essence that makes up a healthy, thriving reef.
And embroidery and beading are the perfect vehicles for this form of self-expression.
Head on over to my YouTube channel to see more.
February 2003
Working with form has truly pushed me to think and work differently.
Thinking of shape is easy, but working with form certainly throws a few obstacles into the mix.
For instance, do I cover the form with fabric and then stitch onto it, or do I embroider the fabric first and then make it fit?
Either choice poses the question of the suitability and appropriateness of my stitch choices – some simply can’t be used.
But the beauty of time is that as all these thoughts and questions filter through my consciousness – I’m also trying to figure out solutions.
And there’s always a solution.
The stitches used are all simple stitches – Fly stitch, Bullion knots, and French knots, and these are the type of stitches I love working with.
So form + embroidery is achievable when I really push myself to think.
And this is the result.
January 2023
Well, a very Happy New Year to everyone – may it be filled with inspiration, potential a needle and thread, and some stunning textiles.
And while the time over the Christmas and New Year break is very much family oriented, that doesn’t mean creativity is put on hold.
This is the first piece in a new series of works entitled ‘Encrustation’, mimicking the eerie witness of coral bleaching before the living coral actually dies.
Where did the inspiration for the form come from? Just reading a Facebook post where another artist working in the realm of wearable art, wrote about using armatures.
For me, inspiration can also come from words – and that ‘light-bulb’ moment when you suddenly think, ‘hey, perhaps this will work – why don’t I just give it a try’?
Which is exactly what I did.
And a few days later this is the result.
The work is malleable and stable, proving yet again, the versatility of embroidery and working with the amazing texture created by beads.
December 2022
Well, it’s nearly Christmas time and the big countdown is well underway.
But, as with anything we do, a time of reflection and contemplation does not go astray – and this is the perfect time to do it.
That break between Christmas and the New Year is my time to look back to help me move forward.
It’s great to reflect on achievements, successes and failures – and they’re all in there, but now, with an eye to the future.
I like to take stock, re-think, re-evaluate and push through some of the obstacles I’ve faced this year, so I can look ahead with clarity.
This is also the perfect time to wish everyone a peaceful and safe Christmas along with my best wishes for a fabulous new year to come.
And I hope it’s filled with ambition, creativity and endless inspiration, so those stitched masterpieces can just keep coming.
So, from my work-room to your studio, I send my very best wishes.
May all your dreams be filled with exotic textiles, and sumptuous threads.
December 2022
Stitching this work has been like pealing back layers – of inspiration, innovation as well as concept.
Finally, I feel like this is a fully resolved work and I’m very happy with the outcome.
What it shows is that to achieve desired outcomes, it takes three things: persistence to continue to work through issues, adjustment to rectify weaknesses and build on new ideas and lastly, change. If something isn’t working, then it needs to change.
And that takes years of constantly critiquing and analyzing your own work to come to understand.
So, as this particular work is nearing completion, I’m already planning an entire body of work around it for an exhibition in early 2024 – and that’s what keeps me going and pushes me to continually create.
Embroidery is an energy that needs constant nourishment – stopping that flow and regaining that momentum is hard.
So I don’t stop.
December 2022
It’s amazing where inspiration can lead you.
Coral certainly has me in its clutches with its magical, witchery sub-aquatic beauty.
And stitching is the perfect time to think and plan – with this set of small decorated boxes being the outcome.
Small beaded tokens sit amid decorative motifs to form even more intricate patterns – all using simple shapes.
The result is just so elegant and pleasing – showing yet again, just how versatile a needle and thread can be.
Yes, they’re decorative and useful at the same time – is that still considered art? Of course, it is – the Arts and Crafts Movement would applaud, I’m sure.
But really, creating is about the inner person and their style and values – so I suppose these say a lot about me.
Beautiful, useful, colourful, and intricate – that encompasses my work exactly.
November 2022
Sometimes you just have to stick with something until it’s done.
The concept for this work has evolved in four distinct stages – each becoming stronger and visually, more powerful.
This last iteration sees the culmination of all that work and I’m thrilled with the result.
All those hours spent thinking and stitching pay off, but you have to stick with it till you reach the ultimate vision for your concept – and sometimes, I know, it’s not easy.
With this work though, that saying, more is better, certainly paid dividends, as it’s those contrasts of colours, textures, shapes and sizes that’s deeply enthralling – and highly reminiscent of those stunning coral gardens.
We live in a beautiful, inspiring world.
Now, I have more and more ideas bombarding that vision, so it’s time to get back to those needles and threads.
Thank goodness.
November 2022
Working with the magic of a very simple, yet elegant colour palette – Black and White.
The Black/White contrast is one of the most eye-catching and well-used in the design world, but it’s also extremely satisfying and easy to stitch.
Take away colour, and your focus moves onto other design elements such as variety, repetition, pattern, and texture – and sometimes that’s a great way to re-energize and re-ignite stitch inspiration.
And the joy of working with Black and White is that you can use as little or as much as you like – small accents can be quite powerful without actually taking over a design.
This piece emulates coral bleaching – that eerily beautiful, yet devastatingly sad event that occurs across the world where coral gardens begin to die due to a number of factors, one of which is thought to be warming water temperatures.
So again, a simple needle and thread are able to offer a narrative, and perhaps gain attention to the crisis in our oceans.
October 2022
Beautiful, idyllic Rarotonga! You’d think that with a wedding and that stunning azure sea, no stitching would get done. Wrong.
‘Island time’, that wonderful concept of no rush and no stress allowed me to pick up a needle and thread daily to try to emulate those magnificent colours just outside our doors.
With an amazing natural reef lagoon, there were brightly-hued, tropical fish just metres from the shoreline.
But it was the colour of the sea and the breaking reef encircling the lagoon that prompted this small work, along with its coral-like shapes.
Then, of course, came this image, taken just before we returned home, capturing forever the sun, sand and sea, as well as some very interesting coral shapes.
Returning home with us as well, was a stunning Tivaevae quilt – with the pattern pre-cut and tacked to the backing, all ready for me to stitch.
Thank you Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium for a wonderful stay.
Simply perfect!
August 2022
Next month my daughter’s being married in a romantic, tropical destination wedding.
So what does a Textile Artist mother do?
Well, she beads a teeny-tiny Neo-Baroque, bespoke beaded horseshoe for the happy couple, of course.
Measuring just 6cm high by 5.5 cm wide, this sweet little horseshoe is also fully beaded on the back along with just one blue sequin for that ‘something blue’ all brides should wear.
This little horseshoe will be pinned onto her gown immediately after the ceremony and has spurred me on to create something similar for a different wedding at the end of the year.
What I love about this work is that it shows the diversity of embroidery in our modern world – still.
This can’t be machine-made or mass-produced, it has to be worked by hand with thoughtfulness and affection.
It’s a beautiful coalescence of technique, tradition, and innovation.
August 2022
Sometimes you just need to focus on what feels most important at that moment.
For me, it’s been a re-acquaintance with classic hand embroidery – the sort of stitching that has no plan and no design, so the way forward is totally up to me and totally hidden.
Now while that’s exciting, it’s not always easy – and sometimes stitching doesn’t necessarily start to use its voice until it’s nearly finished.
And that was the case here.
One layer of stitching followed another, but it wasn’t until this piece was nearly completed, that I began to feel the colours, textures and patterns began to gel.
So this kind of work, is really an exercise in confidence-building, ploughing through, and daring to be different.
And if that’s not one of the best exercises I could advise for anyone, then I don’t know what is.
July 2022
We all know and understand the importance of colour – but just how exhilarating can one colour be?
Green is such a simple, evocative colour, yet it just gives and gives in terms of pleasure and usability.
Add contrast of line, shape and texture and it’s simply divine.
Used since the time of the ancient Egyptians as a symbol for regeneration and birth moving to signify wealth, merchants, bankers and the gentry in post-classical and early modern Europe.
Green is as mesmerising as it is ancient – but so useful and modern at the same time.
Here I’ve used a variety of applied fabrics and threads, working a plethora of threads, gimps, sequins and beads to create a panel of green for my Improv Sampler.
Very satisfying and highly recommended – green is delightful to work with.
July 2022
The Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair for 2022 is over and it was a huge success in its new venue at The Sydney Showground at Homebush.
It was six full-on days, but it was extremely worthwhile.
At last, after nearly two years, people could interact – to learn or simply be creative.
Here I am on set-up day, proudly standing in front of a hugely blown-up image of a piece of my work – hand embroidered I might add, which is not what I’m known for.
Thanks, IntoCraft for the amazing opportunity of being one of your Guest Artists. I loved every moment – plus I made some inspiring purchases.
So if one of these events is coming close to you, do try to attend. Everyone needs support from the traders, to the groups and guilds, and to textile artists like me.
Hand on heart, I can honestly say, I really enjoyed this one.
May 2022
Hand embroidery crosses time and borders. It’s an art and a treasure.
And I’ve recently rekindled a passion for hand embroidery leading to this work-in-progress.
Worked on a ground of beautiful navy blue wool off-cuts, the rectangular lengths have been simply stitched and patched together to form one long working ground.
There’s no plan – other than a general idea of using a different colour palette in each rectangle.
So this is my interpretation of improv stitching – of gently meandering where line and shape dictate and where colour and texture add variety and interest.
Using simple surface stitches, and drawing upon my stash of threads and bits and bobs, I’ll be working on this at my stand at the upcoming Quilt & Craft Fair at Homebush next month.
Come and say hello.
May 2022
Very pleased to be one of five artists being recognised for their significant contribution to the development of the Embroiderers’ Guild NSW Inc.
This will be celebrated with an Exhibition named ‘Treasures’, where a signature piece of each of our works will be displayed in Gallery 5, throughout May.
A Members and Guests Day will also honour the ‘Treasures’ at Guild Headquarters, 76 Queen Street, Concord West on May 11.
Enjoy the exhibitions on the ground floor as well as the Gallery shop, which is full of temptations for the avid stitcher – I never leave empty-handed.
April 2022
Delighted to have been invited to be one of three guest artists at this year’s Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair, presented by Expertise Events.
This wonderful event will be held at The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush, from June 29 to July 3, 10 am-4 pm.
My stand ‘Design For Stitch’ will emphasize integral components needed to design your own work to stitch.
Most of all, I’ll be emphasizing making design enjoyable, sustainable and unique to you.
Come and say hi, and let’s chat about design.
There’ll also be my Top Tips talks daily at 2 pm.
Honestly, after so many lockdowns and restrictions, it’s time to network, socialize and re-energize our creative spirits.
See you there!
March 2022
Sometimes, creating is simply about going back to the basics of making marks, playing with colours and textures – of just understanding the types of marks that are pleasing and the colours that are uplifting.
Out of twelve small pieces of abstract art, this was my favourite and the one that is most successful to me – it speaks strongly of the colours I love to work with and the contrasts of line and shape that I find so appealing.
More importantly, though, it’s about never stopping, being continually curious and willing to make mistakes to learn and grow.
How do I interpret this in stitch?
That’s the next hurdle because it would be stunning.
This need to create and explore, to be curious and learn will come up with the answer I need.
I’m naming this artwork ‘Summer Sun’.
March 2022
Ozquilt Network offers a touring members’ exhibition, called Australia Wide.
This fabulous initiative by Ozquilt Network offers its members the opportunity to submit work that represents their contemporary art quilt practice.
I’m thrilled and delighted to be one of three selectors for the artworks to be included in the upcoming Australia Wide 8 touring exhibition and to be given the opportunity to submit a piece of my own work to travel with the exhibition.
Study In Green is my submission for this exhibition and was based on collage work done some time ago – something I don’t often do, but am certainly looking to further as a result of this work.
Initiating new design work is not always an easy process – and sometimes you just want to do something a little bit different.
Online entries close on April 8, 2022.
March, 2022
How privileged and honoured am I to have been selected to be a part of this wonderful publication, ‘Finding Your Thread – The Search For The Storyteller and The Artist’, curated by Anne Kempton, gallerist of Timeless Textiles in Newcastle?
The Foreword by David Eastburn, states that Anne is a ‘creative leader’ and that she ‘releases the energy and creativity of others to enable them to realize their capacities.’
That’s so true – especially for me. Anne offered me an opportunity and I took it – and I’ve worked hard for it too.
This amazing book links local and international fibre artists – a sector of the arts too long under-acknowledged.
Thanks to Anne, that is changing.
Buy your copy of ‘Finding Your Thread’ here.
February, 2022
2022 appears to be the year of hand embroidery here at Live, Love, Stitch.
And it’s amazing to be back in the rhythms of needle and thread, stitch and embellishment.
So if you’d like to follow my progress, watch my YouTube channel.
This is a wonderful way to tap into all the research I do for my Podcast, Stitch Safari – and apply some of those stunning ideas and techniques – some of which haven’t changed for centuries.
And I just want to reinforce that none of the stitches I do are complicated – rather I love simple stitches worked over and over again, just like my machine embroidery.
So join me on my hand-embroidered journey for 2022 – or pick up a needle and thread and begin your very own.
ART QUILT AUSTRALIA 2021 OZQUILT NETWORK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2021- see below
December 2021
An invitation to exhibit a piece of hand stitching has prompted me to reacquaint myself with a skill I’ve neglected for some time.
I’ve used our amazing ocean floors, in particular Australia’s magnificent Great Barrier Reef as inspiration, gleaning important education about the fragility of these eerily beautiful structures.
And to achieve this goal, I’ve begun two samplers – one to ensure I could actually embroider and the second to begin to delve into innovative ways to express these megastructures of coral, home to many animals and such an important eco-system.
If you’d like to follow my story, I’ve posted part one of a vlog entitled ‘A Cacophony of Stitch’ on my YouTube channel.
Now I’m beginning to build a picture of how I’d like to move forward.
Such an exciting journey. Join me as I progress through all the hurdles to create some beautiful slow stitching.
July 2021: Creating art by using art – my latest work is taking staged images of my textile and fibre art incorporating hand and machine embroidery. More images on Pinterest.
April 2021: Thrilled to receive news that the Stitch Safari Podcast has been named as one of the 20 Best Embroidery Podcasts of 2021 by Welp Magazine.
There’s a ton of work gone into beginning this Podcast, be equally, there’s a ton of pleasure too.
The research, the writing and the recording are all new to me, but I’m enjoying every moment and every journey of learning more about design through history, its effect on the art of the needle, and the relevance of stitch to communities, economies, cultures, traditions and the individual.
It’s also meant that I’ve been able to add some wonderful titles to my Embroidery History library. More and more research is being done into the importance of stitch, embroidery and textiles throughout history, resulting in some pretty amazing books and papers being written by some pretty amazing people.
Most Podcasts range from between 10-20 minutes – making them perfect for a sit-down cup of coffee or for some dedicated stitching time.
If you haven’t subscribed or listened, head on over to the Stitch Safari website where you can listen to every episode. If you love history, design and stitch, you’ll love the Stitch Safari Podcast.
May 2021: I was thrilled to be invited to officially open an exhibition of modern quilts, entitled Toward Abstraction: An Exhibition of Modern Quilts on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
If you live in Sydney or are able to visit Gallery76 at Concord West before May 30, then you’re in for a treat.
These quilts present some of the most exciting Australian artists working in the modern quilt movement today.
Each artist has had at least one of these quilts juried into Quiltcon, one of the largest exhibitions of its kind, presented by the Modern Quilt Guild of America.
Now you can see them in a beautifully curated gallery setting, right here in Sydney.
Easily a must-see exhibition for anyone interested in stitch, textiles, colour and design.
Here’s my opening speech.
ART QUILT AUSTRALIA 2021
OZQUILTNETWORK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2021
And Then There Were Three 2021 2m x 40cm
Accepted into the 6th Biennial Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition at the Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, in March, and also into one of Australia’s premier juried exhibitions, Art Quilt Australia 2021, to be held at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW from 12 June until 3 July 2021 and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, Lilydale, Victoria from 7 August until 31 October 2021.
This narrative textile epitomizes an Australian summer using an unusual format inspired by the magnificent Medieval embroidery, the Bayeux Tapestry.
It’s long, narrow configuration, confined by decorative borders offers a perfect opportunity for a story-telling composition, featuring gently abstracted frangipani leaves, flowers and buds, along with a simple account of a family of nesting magpies.
As a contemporary embroidered artwork, it communicates a link to historical embroideries and woven hangings used to convey or represent stories that were deemed important, worthy of being recorded.
Read how this piece was designed and made in my three-part blog series ‘And Then There Were Three’.
Pleasure, Beauty, Freedom – 2021. 2m x 40cm
This lyrical, free-flowing design, inspired by the simplicity of a morning walk, embraces the pleasure, beauty and freedom felt during the easing of Covid restrictions.
The long, narrow, narrative format encased by geometric borders, references the magnificent medieval embroidery, the Bayeux Tapestry, connecting with our rich embroidered textile history.
The story gently percolates across the central frieze with zones of breezy airiness and cascading flowering gums, at the same time concealing five raucous, clamorous Lorikeets in and around the design embodying Australia’s amazing wildlife.
Ode to Plants 2020
Selected into the inaugural Australian Textile Art Award 2020 and also for the cover of the December 2020 issue of Australia’s premier textile magazine Textile Fibre Forum.
This is my response to the dreadful bushfires, drought and lockdown we’ve all experienced here in Australia recently. It’s a nod to looking forward to better things, to renewing our enthusiasm and the wonder of nature to regenerate after such hardships.
Worked in an unusual circular format which encourages an almost riotous interlacing design full of energy and life.
Fully machine embroidered using polyester and rayon thread on a felt substrate.
Want to design your own textile and fibre art, but don’t know where to start?
The answer’s anywhere – just start. Be courageous, follow your heart and give design a go.
My name’s Cathy Jack Coupland and I’m an award-winning Australian textile artist with over 20 years’ experience designing original and unique machine embroidered artworks.
Design isn’t difficult, but it can be daunting, so we just have to make the whole process enjoyable and do-able – and best of all – make it yours!
And just between you and me, the trick to creating amazing, meaningful design is really, really simple – just follow your passion and you can’t go wrong.
Join me as I present fortnightly forays into the magical world of design
Jump on board – Live, Love, Design – it’s your time.
YouTube: Cathy Jack Coupland
Whether you are looking to purchase artwork, offer an exhibition space or discuss Cathy’s work, please message Cathy Jack Coupland Artist page on Facebook.
